Marathon

Marine Corps Marathon DC–2010

Yep, I signed up for it. And you know what? I am super excited and super motivated.  I signed up through Team in Training, otherwise known as TNT. I did an event with TNT 6 years ago. It was amazing. I did the Memphis in May Triathlon. I sucked at that Triathlon but I did it. I sucked so much that I was out to prove something to myself so I signed up for another one shortly after… the NYC Triathlon.

I shaved 45 minutes off of my time.

The point is that TNT motivated me.  It got me started.

And ever since then I have been wanting to do another event—a marathon. And now I am doing it!

Why did I wait so long?  Well, good question.  Right after my triathlons I got married and the second I got married I wanted to get pregnant.  I thought that while I was trying to conceive it wouldn’t be a good idea to excercise too rigourously…..so I didn’t. 3 years later–I had my Princess. And 14 months after that along came Firecracker.

6 years have now gone by without exercise. I could have done a ton of events but I didn’t.

I was too scared. Always had an excuse not to.

Sure I have been playing tennis since then and that helps but nothing beyond that.

So why now?  Well we are trying for baby # 3. And we are excited about that. But 6 months into it and nothing. And we are also fine with that. We are going to keep trying but something else also clicked in me. I received another TNT mailer. And I thought this is it. The time is now. The timing is right. The temperature is right. The kids are at the right age.  I would love nothing more than get pregnant with a third child. But I am also so very, whole-heartedly content with the 2 beautiful daughters we have in our lives.

I say it all the time. I would be happy either way with whatever God blesses us with.

BUT, I am not going to sit around and wait, and wait, and wait. I am going to follow through with things I want to do.

And a marathon is something I have always wanted to do.

But why a marathon?  I don’t have a good reason. Especially since I HATE to run. It’s just been on my bucket list. I have a long bucket list. I will share with you one day.  It’s something I want to do. Need to do.

I want to prove that I can do it. Or maybe I want to brag/blag about doing it. I don’t know.

Or maybe it’s because I feel yukky about myself and it’s the only way I will lose weight.  Like I still look pregnant. The bulky, bloated, middle belly fat. And no I am not being hard on myself. I am being realistic.

I see people’s eyes when they look at me.  They always seem to travel down and stare at the belly.

Some women get boob stares, I get belly stares.

‘Hmmm..is she pregnant? She kind of looks it but I don’t think she is?’

NO, I am not. I just have leftover belly fat. And thanks for not asking.

Poor posture, lack of fitness, PCOS, pre diabetes, the horrible soft drinks I consume for my energy. They all contribute to it.

So I am doing the marathon to lose it. To be healthier.

To look better, to feel better, to be a healthier mom for my girls and a healthier wife for my honey-do.

And no….a gym won’t cut it. You see I grew up playing sports. I exercised with a ball in hand. For fun.  I can’t stand working out at a gym.  And yes the marathon running will be boring but it will be more than that. It will be a challenge. A challenge to myself. To prove I can do it. BUT, I would never be able to do it alone. I am honest enough with myself to admit that.  I have to have another reason.That’s where TNT comes in. They GIVE you a reason.  And you can read about it here, here, and here. So many reasons. They also are a super organization. Highly motivated for their cause. They are extremely organized, work with you to train and get er’ done. They work with you to raise the money. They send out weekly emails. They inspire, they hound, they motivate.  It’s a beautiful thing.

You meet other amazing people trying for the same goals for their own reasons. And you make lasting friendships.

I still have a great connection with my original TNT mentor. He inspires me on a regular basis.  Thanks M.S. for that.

So why am I telling you all of this?

Because I need your support. I need help in raising the funds for these people.

For their families, for their friends, for the organization.

So go and help. Please.

My Fundraising Site–click to enter.

I promise to keep you all updated. I promise to share in pictures, in words, in my grumpiness, and my happiness.

And hopefully in return it will inspire someone else.

(ps–our Saturday run group met at Liberty State Park. Yes, I am dorky enough to take pictures of myself. At least I can admit it.)

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